United Arab Emirates players celebrate after the goal that seal their 1-0 win over Australia’s Olyroos in the Rio Olympics qualifier in Doha.
Photograph: Francois Nel/Getty Images

The Olyroos have stumbled on the road to the Rio Olympics with a 1-0 loss to the UAE at the AFC Under-23 Championship opener in Doha. Despite controlling possession for much of the game, the Olyroos were brought undone by an 85th-minute own goal from Melbourne Victory defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco.

Skipper Ryan Edwards said the Olyroos squandered chances to put the UAE to the sword in the Olympic-qualifying tournament. “The boys are absolutely devastated,” he said after the loss. “It was a tough game, UAE set out to stop us playing and congratulations to them, their game plan paid off.”

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“We had some great chances - (Jamie) Maclaren and Conor Pain in the second half - to put them away which would have changed the story of the game. We needed to be much more cleaner on the ball and much more clinical in our possesion trying to penetrate rather than just keeping it for the sake of it at times.”

The Olyroos next game is against Vietnam on Sunday night, followed by Jordan on Wednesday as they seek to finish top two in their group to progress to the quarter-finals. Edwards said the team would review their game plan ahead of the crucial clash with Vietnam.

“It’s three cup finals really and we lost the first one today, so we have to go again,” Edwards said. Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou is in Doha to cast an eye over Australia’s young talent and Edwards said the under-23 side would look to the seniors for inspiration. “The Socceroos lost their first game in the Asian Cup and they went on to win it, so we take the lead from that,” Edwards said.